Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

The bureau of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes all naturalization applications and provides the Court with a list of the candidates selected to be naturalized in the Federal Court.

Currently, the selection consists of only those petitioners who have requested to:

• participate in the Naturalization Ceremony and swear the oath of allegiance in a formal court proceeding;
• change their names legally and have their new names appear on the Certificate of Naturalization.

USCIS should be contacted directly for procedures on becoming naturalized.  Visit their website for answers to common questions, copies of forms, and general information about USCIC.  Naturalization ceremonies are generally held in the US Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI.  Special ceremonies may also be held at other locations.

This is a video taken at a naturalization ceremony held at the Milwaukee Art Museum on September 17, 2018.

Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien features Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph in a Fourth of July citizenship story.
 

'A Hope for Tomorrow' is the story of Edumakono Zetho, a former refugee from the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. He's now a U.S. citizen living in Milwaukee and working to give back to the orphaned children and abused women now living in his former refugee camp back in Tanzania. *Graphic images from the Congo are contained in this documentary. Viewer discretion advised.

Source: Milwaukee PBS, Original Air Date: November 21, 2019

[4/25/2024] Mallory Anderson reports that over two dozen new United States citizens were welcomed during a special naturalization ceremony Thursday at the Milwaukee County Historical Society. The 30 citizenship candidates come from Burma, China, Congo, the Dominican Republic, India, Kuwait, Mexico, North Macedonia, Sudan, Thailand and Venezuela. The process to become a U.S. citizen, is lengthy. All who took the naturalization oath Thursday have spent years working towards this achievement. "I am from Venezuela. I came here seven years ago," said Yosmary Godkin. "I am really excited, because I’ve waited for this moment." "What did you sacrifice to come here and get this citizenship?" asked WISN 12 News’ Mallory Anderson. "My life," replied Godkin through tears. For the immigrants naturalized Thursday, getting to that moment included years of residency, applications, interviews, and English and civics tests.

[4/25/2024] WTMJ-TV NBC Milwaukee reports 30 new citizens were welcomed in the country. A naturalization ceremony was held at the Milwaukee County Historical Society on Thursday. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services tries to have these ceremonies at noteworthy places, saying it’s meant to honor the commitment they have shown to the U.S. along their journey. The 30 new U.S. citizens come from 11 different countries all over the world. Those countries are Burma, China, Congo, Dominican Republic, India, Kuwait, Mexico, North Macedonia, Sudan, Thailand and Venezuela.